Remote tuning control for radioreceivers



v. FLocco REMOTE TUNING CONTROL FOR RADIORECEIVERS Filed Sept. 27. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l izvvElvroR. Fleece,

ATTORIJE Sept. 13, 1932. v F-Locco 1,877,502

REMOTE TUNING CONTROL FOR RADIORECEIVERS Filed Sept. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VZZCh/ZFZOGGO,

@TTORNEY.

Sept. 13, 1932. v. FLOCCO 1,877 502 REMOTE TUNING CONTROL FORRADIORECEIVERS Filed Sept.'27, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. izzcenlf'l'acca,

A HORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT mam rLocco, or NEWARK. NEW JERSEY,

REMOTE TUNING CONTROL FOR nnnronncnrvnns Application filed September 27, 1929. Serial No. 395,725.

This invention relates, generally, to a novel I Illustrative embodiments of mechanism made according to and embodying the prin- .ciples of this invention are shown in the ac-' companying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is aface View ofa radioreceiver provided with the cylinder type tuning dial andequippedwith the novel pneumatic tun- 29 in and volume remote control means; Fig.

2 1s a top plan view of the control box with which the cylinder type tuning dial is connected; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal 1 section through the control box,.taken,on line 55 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig 4 is. an enlargedlongitudinal section, showing a means for coupling the exterior air pump delivery lines to the receiver casing and corresponding air lines of the control box; Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the airpump, and through the manipulatable selective valve means for couplin the exterior air lines therewith; Fig. 5 is a face view of the ad M justable member of the selectivevalve, and

"" Fig. 5 is a face view ofthe valve body; Figs. 7 8 andv 9, are respectively separated side elevations of parts of the selective valve means; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the indicator strip of said valve means.

" Fig. 10 is a face view of a radio receiver provided with the disc type tuning dial, and equipped with the novel pneumatic tuning and volume remote control means modified r to actuate the same; Fig. 11 is an enlarged.

" fragmentary section, on line- 1111 in said Fig. 10, showing the modified control box in I end elevation; and Fig. 12 is a side elevation of said modified control box with cover re moved to disclose certain interior parts.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified motion of the dial to the receivers tuningconform of pneumatic motor which maybe used in the novel remote control means ofthisinvention; and Fig. 14 is a fragmentarysview of the air line connections to said modified form of pneumatic motor.

Fig. 15is a transverse sectionand- Elgiili is a longitudinal section of yet anothenmodified form of. pneumatic motorwhich;may :be used in the novel remote control means of this invention. 1. l r 1 i 7 Similar charactersv of .reference are ;employed in theabove described views, to indicate correspondingfiparts. iv i Referring first tO'FlgS;:1 to 10 inclusive of the drawings, I-have shown therein my-novel pneumatic. remote control me'chanismminv-a form adapted to manipulate cylinder tuning dials of radio receivers. in said; figures of the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates the casing ofthe receiver, havin in its front wall an opening throughwsihic the periphery. of a cylinder type tuningrdial 2 projects. 3 indicates the-shaft of the..dial 2,. whichis adapted to transmit-the.=r.otary denser means (not shown), whereby the same is operated. I

z-The reference character .4 indicatesnthe control box. element of'my. novel pneumatic remote control mechanism. Said control box is located within said receiver casing-adjacent to said dial 2'. One end of the 'shaft 3 is journaled in a side wall of. said control box,

with a portion thereofextending into the Fixed on said shaft 3 box is a spur gear 5.

interior of the latter. within said a control Supported within said control box is .acylinder 6, the same being subdivided between its ends by a head wall 7, whereby a cylinder chamber 8 is provided on one side of said head wall 7 and a secondcylinde'r chamber 9 is provided on the opposite side thereof. Said cylinders 8 and 9 being thus arranged endto end. Slidable through said head wall 7, so as to be common toand reciprocable in both of said cylinder chambers Sand 9, is a piston rod 10. Fixed on said piston rod 10, for operative movement within said cylinder chamber 8, is a piston 11; and, in like man- 00 ner, fixed on said piston rod 10, for operaranged end to end. head wall 22, so as to the teeth of which mesh with a spur gear 5.

Said rack 13 is maintained in operative meshed relation to said spur gear 5 by meansof a flanged guide roller 14, which engages the back of said rack. Said guide roller 14 is supported by a suitable bearing bracket 15,

which is secured to the wall of said control box 4.

A rheostat 16 for varying volume of the receiver is located adjacent to the control box 4. This rheostat is preferably but not necessarily mounted on the end of said control box, and possesses a shaft 17 for rotating the contact arm 18 thereof. The shaft 17 is arranged to project exteriorly of the receiver casing 1, and is provided on its exterior end with a knob 19, whereby manual operation of the contact arm 18 may be accomplished when desirable. The opposite end of said shaft 17 extends into the interior of said control box, and connected with this end is a spiral arm or worm rod 20. Supported within said control box 4 is a second cylinder 21, the same being subdivided between its ends by a head wall 22, whereby a cylinder cham ber 23 is provided on one side of said head wall 22, and a second cylinder chamber 24 is provided on the opposite side thereof. Said cylinder chambers 23 and 24 being thus ar- Slidable through said be common to and reciprocable in both of said cylinder chambers 23 and 24, is a piston rod 25. Fixed on said piston rod 25, for operative movement within said cylinder chamber 23, is a piston member 26; and, in like manner, fixed on said piston rod 25, for operative'movement within said cylinder chamber 24, is a piston member 27. Suitably secured to the piston rod 25, at the external side of the piston member 26, for outward projection from the cylinder chamber 23, is an arm 28, having a lateral extension 29 at its free end to provide a perforate'nut-piece through which said worm rod 20 is operatively engaged. If desired, the free end of said extension 29 may be slidablvcngaged in a grooved guide member 30 afiixed to an adjacent wall of said control A suitable air-pump meansis provided for supplying air to the cylinder chambers 8, 9, 23 and 24. This air-pump means may be of any suitable type, but preferably comprises a hollow rubber bulb 31. having an intake check valve 32 at one end and outlet checkvalve 33 at its opposite end. Said pump is connected by an adjustable valve device to air lines or conduits 34, 35, 36 and 37, which respectively lead to the respective cylinder chambers 8, 9, 23 and 24, communicating with the latter through ports 38, 39, 40 and 41.

Preferably sections. of said air lines or conduits 34, 35, 36 and 37 within the receiver casing 1 are joined to corresponding exterior sections thereof by a coupling or union means which is secured in connection with the front wall of said receiver casing. This coupling or union means comprises a main body 42 having an enlarged outer end 43 to form a "shoulder 44. Said main body is inserted from the exterior side of the receiver casing wall through an opening 45 therein until stopped by the shoulder 44. The inner end of said main body 42 is externally threaded to receive a keeper nut 46. Said main body is provided with passages 47 terminating in projecting nipples 48 with which the interior sections of said air lines or conduits are connected. Aligned and engaged with the outer end of said main body 42 is a coupling member 49 which fits in a depressed face 50 of said main body 42, and which possesses passages 51 to match the passages 47 of the latter, said passages 51 terminating in projecting nipples 52 with which the exterior sections of said air lines or conduits are connected. Said coupling member 49 is held against rotative displacement relative to said main body 42 by a key 53 and slot 54 with which these parts are respectively provided, to the end that their passages 51 and 47 are maintained in coupled alignment. Said coupling member 49 is secured in assembled relation to said main body 42 by means of an annular shoulder 55 and a keeper nut 56, the latter being threaded on the enlarged outer end of said main body 42. The outer sections of the air lines or conduits, leading from said coupling or union means to the air I The adjustable valve mechanism connected With the air pump member, comprises a rotatably adjustable member 59 having a rearwardly extending nipple 60,to couple the same with the discharge end of said pump bulb 31. Said adjustable member is provided at its forward face with a central or axial stud 61 to rotatably connect the same in adjustable relation to a valve member 62. The meeting faces of said adjustable member 59 and valve member 62 are ground to produce an air-tight fit, and a spring 63 is disposed around said stud 61, between the valve member 62,, and a keeper nut 64 threaded on the end of said stud 61, to maintain the face of said adjustable member 59 in tight or close contact with the face of said valve member 62, while leaving the former free for adjusting rotation relative to the latter. Said valve member 62 is provided with spaced radially oil-set valve ports 34', 35', 36 and 37 terminating at their discharge ends in nipples 65 by which the air lines or conduits 34, 35, 36 and 37 are respective ly coupled with corresponding valve ports 34, 35','36' and 37. Said adjustable member 59 is provided with an'intake port 66 having its receiving end extending through the nipple 60 so as to communicate with the air-pump through the outlet check-valve 33 of the latter. Said intake port 66 possesses a radially ofiset outlet end 67 opening at the face of said adjustable member so as to be selectively alignable with given valve ports of said valve member 62 on rotation of said adjustable member. Said adjustable member is further provided with radially off-set escape ports 68 for alignment with the remaining valve ports of said valve member when a given valve port of the latter is in communication with said intake port 66 of said adjustable member 59. A covering thimble 69 may be threaded onto the valve member 62 to conceal the connections between the same and the covered air lines or conduits. Said valve member 62 is externally marked relative to the positions of the valve ports thereof to indicate the particular function to be served by admission of air from the air-pump through a given air line or conduit to the air motor mechanism comprised in the cylinder chambers 8, 9, 23 and 24 and the pistonsthereof. For example,

- the rotation of the tuning dial in one direction is accomplished by operating the piston in the cylinder chamber 8 served by the air line or conduit 34, and consequently the valve port 34 may be indicated by the abbreviation Tun; the rotation of the tuning dial in reverse direction is accomplished by operating the piston in the cylinder chamber 9 served by the air line or conduit 35, and consequently the valve port 35' may be indicated by the abbreviation Tun. Rev; the rotation of the rheostat contact arm in one direction to increase the volume of receiver sound output is accomplished by operating the piston in the cylinder chamber 23 served by the air line or conduit 36, and consequently the valve port 36' may be indicated by abbreviation Vol. on; and, finally, the rotation of the rheostat contact arm in the opposite direction to decrease the volume of receiver sound output is accomplished by operating the piston in the cylinder chamber 24 served by the air line or conduit 37, and consequently the valve port 37 may be indicated by the, abbreviation Vol. off. Such, or any other suitable form of indication, may be applied to the vlave member 62 in any suitable or convenient manner. One form for furnishing thev desired indications may comprise a strip 70 of celluloid or other suitable material bearing the indications (as shown in Fig. 10), such strip being suitably mounted on and around the valve member structure, so as to cooperate with an external indicator mark 7 O on the adjustable member 59 corresponding to the position of the intake port 66 thereof, whereby when said mark 70, by rotation of the adjustable member 59, is opposed to a given indication on the valve member structure, the operator will be assured that said. intake port 66 is operatively aligned through the proper valve port with the air line or conduit serving the air motor mechanism desired to function for the production of a desired tuning or volume control adjustment of the radio receiver.

It will be obvious that the length of the external sections of the air lines or conduits may be su'liicient to extend to any desired distance remote from the radio receiver but within hearing distance thereof,

In operation, assuming that it is desired to produce forward rotation of the tuning dial for station selection, the adjustable valve mechanism is first manipulated to connect the air-pump 31 with the air line or conduit 34, whereupon the operator by actuating the pump will cause air to be delivered through the air line or conduit 34 and cylinder port 38 into the cylinder chamber 8 and behind the piston member 11, thus driving the same outwardly to move the rack 13 forward to rotate spur gear and through the same the tuning dial 2 in one direction. Inasmuch as the piston member 12 of cylinder chamber 9 is on a piston rod common to piston mem ber 11, outward movement of the latter piston in its cylinder chamber will be accompanied by inward movement of the former piston member in its cylinder chamber. In order to relieve impeding air pressure within the cylinder chamber 9 when its piston member 12 thus moves inward, the air is driven from the cylinder chamber 9 outwardly through the air line or conduit 35, to the valve port of the valve member 62, which latter valve port is aligned with an escape port 68 of the adjustable valve member 59. As a consequence of this arrangement the piston 11 in cylinder chamber 8 will move freely and easily under the pressure of air admittedinto the latter from the air port.

It will be understood, that in the event the operator desires to turn back the tuning dial 2, the adjustable valve 59 and its intake port 66 is manipulated to connect the air pump through valve port 35' and air line or conduit 35 with the cylinder chamber 9 so as to admit air behind the piston member 12, which is moved outward to retract piston member 11 and rack 13, thereby causing a reverse rotation of spur gear 5 and tuning dial 2. Under such circumstances air will escape from the cylinder chamber 8, under retraction movement of piston member 11, through said air line or conduit 34 and valve port 34', since the latter will at such time be registered with an escape port 68 of the adjustable valve member 59.

To rotate the rheostat contact arm in one direction, the adjustable valve mechanism will be set to couple the air pump-through the air line or conduit 36 with the cylinder chamber 23 to actuate the piston member 26, whereby movement of the nut-piece 29 of arm 28 in one direction to cause rotation of worm rod 20 in one direction is accomplished. To reversely rotate the rheostat contact arm, the adjustable valve mechanism will be set to couple the air pump through the air line or conduit 37 with the cylinder chamber 24 to actuate the piston member 27, whereby movement of the nut-piece 29 of arm 28 in the opposite direction to cause reverse rotation of worm rod 20 is accomplished. It will be understood that escape of air from the cylinder chambers 24 or 23 during these operations is permitted through the opening of their air lines or conduits to the atmosphere throughescape ports 68 of said adjustable valve mechanism.-

From the above it will be readily understood that selective actuation of either the tuning dial 2 or rheostat of the receiver is .pneumatically accomplished from distances remote to the location of the radio receiver per se. The pneumatic remote control mechanism is of comparatively simple structure,

is easily manipulated and sufficiently sensi tive to accomplish delicate adjustments of the.

tuning and volume controlling devices of the radio receiver;.and, furthermore, the pneumatic motor devices of the novel remote control mechanism are compact so as to take up but little room within a receiver casing, while at the same time are subject to comparatively easy connection for operative relation to tuning dial and rheostat devices.

In some styles of radio receivers, a disc type of tuning dial is employed. Such style of receiver with the novel pneumatic remote control of this invention operatively related thereto is shown in Figs. 10 to 12 of the drawings, wherein the reference character 71 indicates the disc type tuning dial rotative in a plane parallel to the face plane of the front wall of the receiver casing 1, and in operative relation to the v1ew1ng opening 42 provided in said casing wall. The shaft '73 of the tuning dial 71 extends at right angles to the plane of the front Wall of the casing 1, and consequently the control box 4 containing the cylinders 6 and 21 of the-air motor devices is disposediso that the rack 13 operatively cooperates with the spur gear 5 mounted on the shaft 3. In this type of receiver the arrangement. of the volume control rheostat 74 and means for actuating the same by the air motor device of cylinder 21 may be modified, so that the shaft 75 carrying the rheostat contact arm 76 may be extended through the receiver casing wall to receive the hand manipulative actuating knob 77. In such case the shaft 75.will lie at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder 21, and consequently thesame maybe actuated through a gear and rack transmission similar to that employed for actuating he tuning dial shaft 73. This is shown in Fig. 12 wherein a rack 78 is operated by the pistons of the air motor device of the cylinder 21 to rotate a spur gear 79 fixed on the rheostat shaft 75. In other respects-the pneumatic remote control mechanism is the same as above described, and includes the air lines or conduits, ,adjustable I or selective valve mechanism therefor and air pump as heretofore set forth.

It will be obvious that the air motor mechanism may be made in various ways, other than in the cylinder form hereinabove described. For example, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, such air motor mechanism may be furnished in double bellows form, wherein a medial fixed base wall 80 is provided on one side with a collapsible or accordion type bellows member 81 and on the opposite side with a similar bellows member 82, the same being linked together for alternate expansion and contrac tion by a-connecting link 83. The rack 84 may be pivotally connected with one of said bellows members, as 81, so as to be reciprocated for transmission of actuating power to a tuning dial or rheostat shaft in a manner similar to that already described. A given air line or conduit may be connected in communication with the interior of said bellows member 81 through an intake port 85 provided in the fixed base wall 80, while a corresponding air line or conduit'may be connected in communication with the interior of said bellows member 82'through an intake port 86 also provided in said fixed base wall 80, all as shown more particularly in Fig. 14.

In Figs. 15 and 16 there is shown still another modified form of air motor mechanism, comprising a sector shaped casing 87 in which is pivotally mounted an oscillatable piston member 88. Fixed on an exteriorly projecting journal 89 of said piston member is a lever arm 90, to the free end of which is pivotally connected the power transmitting rack 91. The casing 87 is provided with an air intake 92 communicating with the interior thereof at one side of said piston member, and another air intake 93 communicating with the interior'thereof at the opposite side of said piston member. Air admitted into said casing on one side of said piston member will swing the latter in one direction to impart forward movement to said powei transmitting rack 91, and air admitted into'said casing on the opposite side of said piston member will swing in the opposite direction to impart retractlve movement to said power transmit ting rack 91. I

I am aware that many changes, other than those already mentioned, may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as described in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the devices and parts as set forth in the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the. construction of said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. The combination with the volume control rheostat of radio receivers, said rheostat having a movable contact arm, of an air motor means, means operated by said air motor means for actuating said contact arm, a manually operab e portable air pump, air conduit means of desired length connecting said pump with said motor means, and a manual- 1y adjustable valve means for governing the flow of air to said motor means so as to produce selective operative movementsthereof.

2. The combination with the volume control rheostat of radio receivers, said rheostat having a movable contact arm, of an air motor having reciprocable piston means, means operated by said piston means for actuating said contact arm, a manually operable portable air pump, an air conduit for delivering air to said motor to produce operative movement of said piston means in one direction, another air conduit for delivering air to said motor to produce operative movement of said piston means in the opposite direction, a manually adjustable valve means between said air pump and conduits to selectlvely couple the latter for reception of air from said pump, and said valve means having air escape means to communicate with one air conduit when the other is connected to receive air from said pump.

3. The combination with a control member of a radio receiver, of mechanism for actuating said radio control member from a distance, said mechanism comprising an air motor having reciprocable piston means, means operated by said piston means for actuating said control member, a bulbous'portable air pump, an air conduit for delivering air from said pump to said motor to produce operative movement of said piston means in one direction, another air conduit for delivering air from said pump to produce operative movement of said piston means in the opposite direction, a manually adjustable and portable valve means included between said air pump and said conduits to selectively couple the latter for reception of air from said pump, and said val've means having an escape means to communicate with one air conduit mechanism for actuating said tuning and volume control means from a distance, said mechanism comprising an air motor means having power transmission means for actuating said tuning control means, a second air motor means having power transmission means for actuating said volume control means, a portable, manually operable air pump means, flexible air conduit means of desired length to connect said pump with both motor means, and a manually adjustable valve means attached to said pump and included between said pump and said air conduit means forselectively controlling the flow of air from said pump to either of said air motor means.

5. The combination with the tuning and volume control members of radio receivers, of mechanism for actuating said tuning and volume control members from a distance, said mechanism comprising an air motor having reciprocable piston means, power transmission means actuated by said piston means of said air motor for actuating said tuning control member, a second air motor having reciprocable piston means, power transmission means actuated by said piston means of said second a1r motor for actuating sald volume control member, a manually operable air pump means, an air conduit for delivering air to said first named motor to produce operative movement of its piston means in one direction, a second air conduit for delivering air to said first named motor to produce operative movement of its piston means in the opposite direction, a third air conduit for delivering air to said second named motor to produce operative movement of its piston in one direction, a fourth air conduit for delivering air to said second named motor to produce operative movement of its piston means in the opposite direction, a valve included between said pump and the receiving ends of said four conduits, said valve having amanually adjustable member adjacent said manually operableair pump means and provided with an air delivery port selectively movable into communication with any desired one of said air conduits.

In testimony, that I claimthe invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of September, 1929.

VINCENT FLOCCO. 

